Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B63/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged
  • B65B63/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
  • B65B63/028—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles by pneumatic means

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method and device for packing bags or other flexible containers in an outer packaging, such as boxes.
• the invention relates to packing bags, filled with product, in such a way that the volume taken up by the bags in the outer packaging is essentially made up of product.
• US-A-3545983 discloses a method wherein a bag, which is not sealed, is entered in a vacuum chamber and after applying vacuum in this chamber sealing is effected.
• US-A-4057949 discloses a method for packaging wherein a bag is partially sealed and evacuated in a vacuum chamber through the remaining opened parts of the seal.
• the invention relates to a method for packing products, according to claim 1.
• the means generating a vacuum can be applied both to the top of the flexible packaging and to the underside of the flexible packaging.
• vacuum for reducing the volume of said flexible packaging is generated by said support.
• the vacuum is not only used for handling the flexible packaging but for removing air or other gases therefrom through the walls thereof after the bags have been closed. Such removal of gases can take place within a relatively short time, it always being ensured that no damage occurs to the product.
• the flexible packaging can then be placed in an outer packaging and stacking of the outer packaging can take place without any risk.
• Such an outer packing gives support and can comprise a carton or crate.
• the outer package can be gas permeable. This means that also after packaging in the outer package both the flexible packaging and the outer package are still gas permeable.
• a first portion of the gas present in the flexible packaging is removed by subjecting the flexible packaging to a vibratory treatment between two vibrating plates, hi contrast to the prior art, it is not necessary to drive out the desired volume solely by means of this vibratory treatment, so that the risk of damage to the product present in the flexible packagings is appreciably reduced.
• vacuum is applied via a support and this support is movable and, for example, constructed as a conveyor belt. By this means vacuum can be applied for a relatively long time without delaying the production process. If a relatively short belt is used, this support can be movable in an indexing manner.
• the invention relates to a device for packing products, comprising a feed for products, a feed for gas-permeable film material, means for producing bags from said film material, filling means for introducing products from said feed into said bags, closing and separating means for closing and separating said bags, vibratory means for reducing the volume of said closed bags, vacuum-generating means for applying vacuum to said film material in order to reduce the volume of said closed bags, and placing means for placing a number of bags in an outer packaging.
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a packaginging installation according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a detail of the device according to Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of the support according to the invention.
• a device for packaginging product is indicated in its entirety by 1.
• the product to be packed such as long thin French fries, is indicated by 3, whilst the bags in which these are packed are made from film material.
• a web of film material is indicated by 2.
• Both the web of film 2 and the products 3 are fed to a packing station 4, at which bags are produced and filled with product in a manner not shown in more detail.
• the film material 2 it is possible for the film material 2 to be present in the form of tube, but this material can also be present in the form of a web that is folded in the packing station to give a tube and is provided with ends.
• the bags will have a rectangular shape and a relatively small thickness. During transport they will lay on one of the sides thereof made from the gas permeable film material.
• the film material used and/or the end closures are made to be permanently permeable to gas.
• the bags are then placed on a buffer conveyor 5.
• 6 indicates a vibratory device where the upper vibrating plate 13 can be moved in the direction of arrow 12 towards the buffer conveyor 5. Whilst already vibrating, the product 3 is taken up in the flexible bag in the most compact manner and any remaining gas is largely removed. However, the pressure applied during this operation is not so great that there is a risk of breakage of the product.
• the bags then pass onto a vacuum conveyor 7 in their path to the packing station 8. Details of the vacu ⁇ mconveyor will be given with reference to Fig. 2.
• the bags then reach the packing station 8. In this packing station 8 the bags are gathered together in some way or other known in the state of the art and placed in an outer packaging such as a box 9.
• the bags are accommodated in the vertical position in the box 9 and are indicated by 10.
• a number of boxes 9 are then stacked on a pallet 11 and despatched. In other embodiments the bags can be packed horizontally.
• the weight of the products that are packed is relatively high, the strength of the boxes on their own is not sufficient to support the weight of the boxes above them.
• the product present in the boxes must contribute to transfer of the weight from the higher boxes to the pallet.
• the tops of the flexible packaging are made such that they contribute to the support, that is to say extend up to very close to the top surface of the boxes 9.
• perforated bags it is important that the products are so compacted and the bags are further emptied to such an extent that the load- bearing capacity of the flexible bag concerned is not lost as a result of the subsequent escape of air or other gas. This problem is avoided by use of the vacuum belt according to the invention.
• a vacuum belt comprises a support 15 that runs over two rollers 16.
• a stationary channel-like construction 19 that is connected to a vacuum source 17 via a line 18. Since the vacuum generated does not have to be too high, a simple centrifugal ventilator can suffice.
• the support 15 can be seen in plan view in Fig. 3.
• This support is provided with diamond-shaped recesses via which the vacuum is transferred to the bags.
• any air or other gas still present in the bags is drawn off through the gas permeable sides of the bags. If large quantities of air have to be removed it is possible to execute the movement of support 15 in an indexing manner, that is to say the porous parts of the bags 10 are above channel 19 for some time.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=27609187

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2002
  • 2002-01-25 US US10/055,031 patent/US6668522B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2003
  • 2003-01-27 PL PL369821A patent/PL208646B1/pl unknown
  • 2003-01-27 WO PCT/NL2003/000055 patent/WO2003062067A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-01-27 AU AU2003207411A patent/AU2003207411B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-01-27 DE DE60303359T patent/DE60303359T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-01-27 EP EP03705484A patent/EP1467914B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (4)

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